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Madame Bovary

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Publisher's Summary

Lady Chatterley's Lover, written in 1928, tells the story of a passionate love affair between an upper class woman and her husband’s gamekeeper, which was thought to be so shocking in its content and its straightforward use of explicit sexual terms, that it was not officially published until 1960. Its 1961 second edition contained this dedication from the publisher: "For having published this book, Penguin Books were prosecuted under the Obscene Publications Act, 1959 at the Old Bailey in London from 20 October to 2 November 1960. This edition is therefore dedicated to the twelve jurors, three women and nine men, who returned a verdict of 'Not Guilty' and thus made D. H. Lawrence's last novel available for the first time to the public in the United Kingdom."

Now firmly established as a classic of English literature that was written well before its time, what saved it from being banned for ever was its literary merit, upheld by some of the most distinguished writers and critics of the time. Lawrence’s prescient musings on the changes in society and his authentic depiction of two unhappily married people, finding in this most unlikely and potentially doomed coupling the physical and emotional balance that they both crave, are as relevant today as they were then. Have a listen!

I read this book in high school and after a very disappointing experience with 50 Shades (even the sex scenes couldn't make up for the weak writing), I turned to lady Chatterley. Veronika Hyks is an intoxicating storyteller. This seductive story can't be beat.

With all the fuss about 50 shades I thought it would be good to go back to the most contentious novel of its time - and one I had never read. Lawrence uses the sex to illustrate two worlds clashing: the sophisticated, well-informed and utterly sterile world of the landed gentry in post WWI England and the earthy, honest, horny world of the staff working for them. It is a predictable plot, but the characterisation is what sets it apart. DHL creates vivid characters with real concerns, vital passions and sometimes hopeless lives. He writes with intimacy and this has led to the huge reaction from critics and sensors. You'd get rougher language on the back of a Sunday newspaper but you'd have none of the social commentary and the carefully dissected social structure. Go on and read it - if you can wrestle it away from your granny. The narration is absolutely fantastic - it is sometimes difficult to imagine the speaker is a woman, her modulation is so dynamic. Extra Brownie points to Veronika Hyks - much of the enjoyment of the novel is due to her acting ability.

Great book and fantastic narration. The narrator easily switched between male and female voices and the upperclass and midlands accent. It was never jarring and completely natural. I totally enjoyed this reading of a classic.

I would have soooo appreciated this back when I first was an English Lit student reading DHL... dialect sucks to read. I don't care what level writer you are. How much more emotion and story did this put out not having that stupid spelling and brain confusion translating every fifth word. Go audiobooks! And you don't need me to review DHLawrence. He's a master of relationships and words... enjoy a classic for a change, even if it is one of the more eyebrow raising ones.

I revisit this story once a decade. Giving away my age, this is my forth visit. What I love is the passion between Connie and Mellors which transcends the rigid class system in England at that time, and how this unexpected and forbidden love frees them both from the dreary, lonely lives that circumstance has trapped them in.

What did you like best about this story?

What I enjoy the most about this story is how Mellors earthy attitude towards sex shocks Connie yet leads her to discover, accept and ultimately revel in her own sexuality. <br/><br/><br/> <br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>

What about Veronika Hyks’s performance did you like?

Having read this book many times I was nervous that listening to it might not meet my expectations and ruin the story for me. I need not have worried.Veronica Hyks made this story come alive. Lady Chatterly was portrayed perfectly as a young woman in love and Ms Hyks did a wonderful job with Mellors use of vernacular. Even lesser characters took on a life of there own. <br/>

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I am always moved when Lady Chatterly cries over the baby pheasants lamenting her unfulfilled life and her empty womb.

Any additional comments?

If you should choose to listen to this book, I hope you enjoy it as much as I.

I recommend this book to anyone and everyone, there is something for everyone in it. There is wonderful love, tender and caring, there is passion, there is grief and sadness, and the whole story has withstood the passage of time.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters and plot are indicative of life at the time.

What about Veronika Hyks’s performance did you like?

The narrator's voice is perfect for the story and she reads it with all the inflection it deserves.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I didn't want to stop listening, even though i know the book well, i stoll wanted to immerse myself in this lovely rendition.

Would you consider the audio edition of Lady Chatterley's Lover to be better than the print version?

I don't think I could make it through the print version. The narration brought the characters to life, and the animated drama made the story more engaging.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed Lawrence's insight and forward thinking about class, gender and sexuality. Impressed such an explicit book was written, with a female protagonist, when it was and understand why audiences would have found it shocking and unprintable until 1960. It's a timeless, great read and is sure to spark intelligent conversation.

I loved the gutsy story and i loved the narrator. I watched the TV version before I listened to this and felt disappointed. I am so pleased I heard this. I am dyslexic and find reading hard going but this was so easy to listen to and follow.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Claire

11/4/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Of its time, yet timeless"

What did you like most about Lady Chatterley's Lover?

Connie, her predicament, her actions, her drive and her foresight. Who she is at the start of the novel, and how she has changed by the end, shows a strong character. I can understand why it would have been shocking to presiding factions at the time, but it was overblown and I'd like to think time has allowed the characters to be seen above the noise of one or two "lewd passages"(!)

What other book might you compare Lady Chatterley's Lover to, and why?

Any novel which seeks to explore the ending of an epoch, and the psychological disarray it brings about in people as society's cards are reshuffled. Anything under the literary realism genre: Madame Bovary, etc. You could also make a case for Beauty and the Beast (sort of...)!

What aspect of Veronika Hyks’s performance might you have changed?

It is not a smooth recording or performance by any means - sometimes the narration sounds robotic, and I worried that I'd be better putting a word recognition voice app over the text, but I found that speeding up the narration improved it, and thankfully the accents for each character are maintained throughout.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

"This film is faithful to the spirit of the book, unlike the recent TV adaptation which was a travesty and insult to Lawrence's writing(!)"

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

MRS S

10/7/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Excellent performance of an excellent book"

Would you listen to Lady Chatterley's Lover again? Why?

I love the writing of D H Lawrence and could listen to his books over and over

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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